Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-18
DISCO er OF rDmnD Remains AT
fSirktntiiIOch.

IilasroW bliIiI.I
IN the srnmer Of 1879 sec iol OF
tie roman vallum of Lolius Urbicus
erected by him between the Firths OF
Forth and Clyde was laid bare 10y the
excavations in connection with sand
pit at BelifelJ, aud a number OF wha.
were believed TO be human bones mn
caIthcd. The discovery attracted an
tiqusIians from all parts to see this
exposed relic of memorable
past, nmoDg whom were the late
Dean Stanley, Dr. Donald Macleod
Professor Neitch, and others. 70,
some time past Mr.. Thomas Ferguson,
sand merchant HI hiniill en- has been
cutting into the ridge on Westermains
alon winch the Roman wall and mill
tarv way are shown to have been con-
structeJ, and local aniiqIarianS nave
been anticipating that some discover es
would be made. On Thursday Mr..
FerguSon's wofkmcn came upon
chamber i'm the ealth. in which were
found some bones aud bronze
spearEead Cutting, at ri 'ht angles,
into THIS sand ridge, which som
believe TO be the southern shore %.
what was once great inland SEA, ruL
Mug from tire Fort to tie Clyde, and
over which Fincalian heroes sllted to
haiass the Roman invaders, sheltered
in their forts along the wall, MIR. Ter
gUSon's workmeD have exposed se,-
ton OF the VOL and military way,
formed Of large-sized gravel and free
stone hubble The angle OF deciivity
of the wall towards the fosse is perfec,
in outline, and the disturbance of the
sand strata in the formation o, t.
ditch, wall, and military way IS 50
strlkingly apparent that the antiquaryo
skcptical critic cannot say the discovery
is another " Aiken Drums Land LadIe"
affair nor can another Eadie Ocbiltce
ejaculatc, " mind tie biggin' OF
Close by what has been exroscl OF
the military way, and ut depth OF
nbous siA icet, was found the hollow
ceptacle re erred to. 1t was about
or seven feet long, two feet broll,
and about the same IN depth. The
carth which lay on the top Of it W.
different in f. nation from the sand
stiata on either side and somewhat -
similar in its component parts being
apparently mixed w,,h surfaco-soil. II
disul t,y showed the size OF the
cutting into the virgin grod9d
necessary for tie iutcInent OF whit
is conceived t. have been the body OF
Roman soldier, perhaps OF the camp
then occupying the level ground ia h.
ne;QhborhCod Of the Peel, a short dis
t.Acc to the east. This hollow in
tie centre of the surrounds
mass Of solid earth was formed
by the lut.nod body ia the cour,e OF
is decay, and the few rema'ning bon
found ctumb'ed into dust on being
touched, their preservation durms 9'l
tic. @ centuries BENG due t. the dry
nature Of their restiogplace. III.
spcar-hoai, when entire, Was abojt
eight inches long. About an inch and
half Of the point is ms ing, but t'a
remaining six and one-halt inches
are in fair state OF prese-g.
tiol. Il is two and one-half inches
broad at the head, and the thia
sharp blade IS strengthe led by mar
row band Of thicker metal running
down tho centre Of each side, and tn
peIing, nke the blade. from heal t.
point Around tte two riyets which
attached the ,pear-he ID to It's handle
Ne pieces OF wood. rotted into Il
Towder, which fell asunder on being
disturbed 1t may be mentioned. rs <
somewhat curious fact, that along the
slndy ridge, which has only a thin
deJ,h ~ sol when under grain, the
route Of the III l.ty way en- eos;'y b'
traced by the straw being shorter i'm
mediately above the line Of TIE Romin
road.